Which Pose to Choose?

I was trying to decide on a "pose" for a flamenco painting - so I went through a few of my drawings to find one I liked.  The first one I did from life and was quickly drawn - much lighter because I was using a smaller nib and I was scribbling furiously to capture the dancer's motion.

 But the second one below is one that I did while looking at the first drawing - because I didn't really like the position of the dancer's left arm in the first drawing.  My take is that the first one is much better and has more energy to it.  (All the lines on her arm help me when I'm dealing with foreshortening.). The second drawing seems so still by comparison.  I do like the lines on it, but I had more time to incorporate a variety of lines with that one.

So I guess this post is just about me telling myself once again that drawing from life is the absolute best way to record movement!  Will paint from the first one - maybe move her arm a little and paint quickly while I listen to music for flamenco dancing.

Yesterday afternoon was spent at South Llano State Park near Junction, Texas, drawing trees.  I thought I had done a pretty good job with a cedar stump and was going to post it today.  But no.  It looked so ridiculous.  However, I will get brave and post the next tree drawing - am lately interested in doing dry point etchings of trees.  Stay tuned.  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Little Landscape - original small oil landscape painting

Okay - not really my thing, but was out at the park, sooo. . . .  The canvas is 5 x 4", and that makes it easier.  It's been way above 100 degrees day after day here and being outside was the very last thing on my mind.  It's a little cooler now so I have absolutely no excuses!  The South Llano State Park is beautiful and a treat to visit - just a few miles from Junction so maybe - just maybe - I'll get this landscape painting thing down!  Thanks for stopping by!